The BirdSong Scanning Wand packs neatly into a compact, hard travel case which is efficient for storing the Scanning Wand and BarCode ScanBook. The Identifyer BirdSong Scanning Wand is built like a jumbo pen. It has built-in volume control.

We tried out this product in a wooded pine forest in the Central United States. We put bird food in a feeder and waited. Soon, a cardinal arrived. So we turned on the I-Flyer BirdsSong Scanning Wand, found a picture of a cardinal in the I-Flyer BarCode ScanBook, and played it for the cardinal. Suddenly, 3 other gorgeous red cardinals arrived and a female, also. Their curiosity got the best of them, so they had to come see what all the fuss was about.

It was thrilling to know that we had called the birds and they came! We began to call several other birds as well, including yardbirds, such as Blue Jays, Robins, Crows, and a Woodpecker. Each bird began responding in the forest and some of them flew overhead or perched in a tree nearby.

When we played the woodpecker, the forest really stirred up as three woodpeckers began calling back. They were quite persistent. We set out to find them to discover why. To our delight, we got to see a momma woodpecker feeding a baby woodpecker in the hole of a hollowed-out tree.

Now, we call the I-Flyer BirdSong Scanning Wand our “magic wand”. It brings so much joy and delight into our lives to be able to interact with birds and the beauty of nature on a closer and more educated level that enriches the lives of everyone who enjoys nature as a part of their travel or leisure. Whether you are a seasoned birding expert, a novice, or just someone who enjoys the beauty of the outdoors in your backyard, this is a must-have product.

Editor’s Note: This really is a product for the whole family. Kids love it, too. It gets them out of the house and inspires them to explore our wonderful world. This product is an editor’s favorite!

If you are looking for an innovative essential resource to add to your household helps library, we have a recommendation. The 869 New Uses For Old Things by Real Simple gives new meaning to “one man’s trash, another man’s treasure”. This alphabetized encyclopedia contains new uses for everyday items from accordian folders to ice cream cones to zippered plastic bags.

Zippered Plastic Bag: Use it to pipe frosting onto a cake or to store soup in a stack. (See p.180)

Our favorite travel solution? If you have a child and you have ever had melted crayons in your car or purse, you’ll appreciate this one! Use an Altoid Mints container to carry crayons in the car, suitcase, or your purse. Everyone we recommend this to finds it extremely useful.

If you want to make a good trip great, learning all you can about your travel destination will enhance your travel experience one hundredfold. If you are a knowledge-thirsty traveler looking to devour as much valuable information as possible before going to the Bible Lands, we have a great recommendation for you! We recommend the Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary Set by Zondervan. Zondervan is a long-standing, reputable publisher who produces reliable, well-studied resources on Biblical places, culture, history, and more.

We highly recommend Zondervan’s Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary. You can find it at www.zondervan.com.

We are sorry to make you wait, but you’ll have to bake these first! The recipes from Classic Southern Desserts from Southern Living will bring you great culinary delight. We tested this cookbook and we approve! We give it a five-star rating. Classic Southern Desserts has everything we are looking to find in a cookbook to meet our five-star standard. It is easy to use, with straightforward, easy to follow directions, and a mouth-watering selection of recipes. Classic Southern Desserts includes large, appetizing recipe pictures to inspire you while baking. We especially recommend the Candy Bar Pie, Easy Black Forest Cake, and Caramel-Nut Pull Apart Bread. You can find this delectable cookbook and more at www.SouthernLiving.com.

If you are a beginner cook looking for a good transition cookbook, we recommend William Sonoma’s Cooking At Home: The Essential Kitchen Companion.

Cooking At Home offers an extensive variety of useful recipes with detailed instructions and expert advice. We recommend this valuable resource as a “transition cookbook” because it is a book that does not teach simple cooking basics, but rather, teaches gourmet cooking basics. Since Cooking At Home is meticulously detailed, it appeals to cooks looking for detailed instruction. Put these recipes to work and you will have your guests eating out of your hand in no time! You can find Cooking At Home and more at www.williams-sonoma.com.